IU3 Day One

vtskiers(z6a CentralCT)July 25, 2006

On Friday we headed off to the fabulous Chicago Botanic Garden. Not everbody had arrived at this point. Joining us later that day were Babs, Drema, David, Jim, Marie and Lynn. If you weren't at IU3 and ever find yourself in the Chicago area, don't miss this place. It was beautifully maintained and creatively planted. A perfect stop for this group of CHAD (Compulsive Hortucultural Aquisition Disorder) sufferers. As far as I'm concerned, Idyllunion is at the top of my list of events for the year. If you were unable to make it this time, start planning for next year.

I loved the plantings on the pergola cross beams outside of the main building.

A container for Deanne. There were many creative containers and annual bedding displays throughout the garden.

After the Botanic garden and in the true spirit of Idyllunion we stopped at three nurseries in quick sucession. All of them were filled with lots of interesting things. If I wasn't flying I would have stocked up.

Dinner and frivolity that night was at V's. Not too shabby, eh?

Give these people some more drinks!

The party in full swing.

And what party would be complete without a dog or two. Meet Mystic.

To see the rest of the pictures I have from Friday, check out the link below.

Bravo Sue - great photos. How fun to relive some of the moments. I'll add some of mine tomorrow - they are not as clear as yours but still capture the flavor. You are right on about it being one of the highlights of the year.

Sue, I can tell we walked together at the Botanic Gardens as you have many of the same shots that I have. Tonight Rick asked me to burn a CD of my pictures so he could take it to work. I think he may have had a good time ;o) A good sign for making it to IU4.
By the way my containers survived my going to IU3 quite well. The timer worked and they got a daily drink and are looking full and lush.

Thanks Sue for starting this! I will be saving lots of pictures since my memory card went bad! :-( When it rains it pours...my connection here is bad too and don't know how long I'll be connected so if you guys don't hear from me for a few days, you'll know why!

Looks like you guys had a blast...I'm so sorry I missed the botanic gardens. I'll have to make the effort to get out there this year.

Whoo Hoo! Thanks for sharing everyone. Vs house and town look so welcoming. Looks like everyone had a good time. Sue I agree about the beam planting. I really like that combination. Babs,I really enjoyed your lake shot. Honey thanks for showing us the quaint Town. By the way you sure are looking thin. Congrats on that.
V, I love your house. I always wanted a log home but decided the upkeep would be to much. Although every house has plenty of that.

Didn't get to tell you yesterday Sue,that I really liked your pics-in particular that shot of the fountains among the cannas is quite eye-catching. I wish I had gotten there sooner so I could have seen more there.

Michelle that's so neat that Rick is showing interest in the pics. I'm so glad we finally got to meet both of you!

Honey-nice to have pics from the square...that place will never be the same after the idyll invasion lol. I wonder if V was the center of town gossip: ) It really was a quaint place to go.
Norma-Honey looks fantastic and is as cheerful as ever!

I only have one pic from the garden center we visited after the CBG...we came upon this greyhound(or is it a Whippet?) and thought of Cynthia. Maybe she'll peek in and say hi. We think you need this in your garden: )

IÂm glad you guys liked the pix of the town. I wasnÂt sure how big the farmerÂs mkt would be Sat and thot it might obscure the town square. V told me that they pipe in the classical music b/c the kids had taken over the square so others couldnÂt enjoy it. Once they added the music, the kids left, families and oldsters returned. I thot that was an ingenious solution.

Thanks, Norma, for noticing IÂm a few lbs. less! When I see myself in pix I still hear my DBÂs from when I was a kid, "Tubby, Tubby 2x4" etc. Babs, thanks to you too. What a nice thing for you to say! You guys are giving me the inspiration I really need to stay on the wagon and continue with improved eating habits. But OMG, the chips, pizza and margaritas tasted SOOOOOO GOOD, didnÂt they?!.

Sue, IÂm so glad you got that shot of the arbor. ThatÂs one I really wanted that didnÂt come out for me. I was so impressed with it.

I'm going to write CBG and ask them what that gorgeous lemon colored daylily is on the path to the trial gardens. The tag sad it was "Lady Eva", but that was't for the lemon colored one. I realy liked it for the color, the huge blooms, ruffled edges and thick texture.

Cindy I especially love the one with the liatris and perovskia...the bum shot isn't bad either...LOL! :-) Oh and those beautiful pond shots...yumm!

I see you and Monique were similarly taken with the pond...beautiful pics Monique. That Echinacea one is so artistic! Lovely! I love that persicaria too and have been thinking about using it out front. Is it terribly aggressive and do you think it would do well in an open northern exposure? Love to know what the girls were laughing about...that Bab's she such a cutie! :-)